How can you check if an animal is breathing?

• A. See if the chest is moving
• B. Listen for breathing sounds
• C. Feel for heartbeat in paw
• D. Check eyelids for movement

Answer: (D)

The main idea is to confirm air is moving in and out of the lungs. The quickest way is to watch for the chest or abdomen rising and falling, listen for breath sounds, and feel for air moving at the nose or mouth. If you place a hand near the animal’s nostrils or mouth, you can often sense airflow or see a gentle exhale. These checks together give a reliable sense of whether the animal is actually breathing.

Eyeballing eyelids moving isn’t a dependable sign of breathing, and feeling a heartbeat in a paw doesn’t tell you whether air is reaching the lungs. In an emergency, focus on chest movement, breath sounds, and airflow at the nose/mouth for about 10 seconds to determine if breathing is present, and act accordingly if it isn’t.